Seiss eligibility

Shmon85

I'm sure I can't be alone, I've found out I'm not eligible for the income support scheme, despite being self employed. I started self employment in September 2018,and filed my 2018/2019 tax returns on 31st January 2020. I have also already done my 2019/2020 return. I did not earn over 50000, I did get my return in on time and self employment earned me more than 50% of my income in either 2018-19 or 2019-20 tax years, so I can not understand why I am not eligible. Can anyone shed any light? 

Jeremy535897

Have you tried the online eligibility checker again?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Have you actually checked your 2018:19 return to refresh your memory of what was declared?

Is it possible your other income (PAYE?) from April to September 2018 was more than your self employment profit in that tax year?

2019:20 is irrelevant in establishing your initial eligibility.

Shmon85

I've tried the online checker several times to no avail. My paye earnings in 18/19 were less than 30% of my total income. I managed to get through on the phone and the adviser said it seems as though I should be eligible, and they will look at my case at some point after the 18th of this month. As you can imagine it's a little confusing and rather stressful. I had not claimed any other assistance on the understanding that this help would come, and not wishing to claim benefits unnecessarily, used what little savings I had to get through this period because I can't work due to being in the shielded group

Pict_66

I have been self employed for 20 years. Always filed my tax returns on time and have never earned anywhere near £50,000 threshold. I am up to date and have no tax to pay according to my tax account. I earned £75 as an enumerator at the election so this and working tax credits was the only income not from self employment. When I put my UTR and NI number in it says I'm eligible. As soon as I put in my Govt. Gateway details and text code it changes to ineligible. I requested a review but have heard nothing so far. I've now had to apply for UC which wipes out my WTC forever and no income now for 5 weeks. I cant fathom why I'm ineligible and when you see the opening page on the SEISS blowing their own trumpet, saying it's a world beating service delivered weeks ahead of schedule it makes your blood boil!

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Pict_66 said:

I have been self employed for 20 years. Always filed my tax returns on time and have never earned anywhere near £50,000 threshold. I am up to date and have no tax to pay according to my tax account. I earned £75 as an enumerator at the election so this and working tax credits was the only income not from self employment. When I put my UTR and NI number in it says I'm eligible. As soon as I put in my Govt. Gateway details and text code it changes to ineligible. I requested a review but have heard nothing so far. I've now had to apply for UC which wipes out my WTC forever and no income now for 5 weeks. I cant fathom why I'm ineligible and when you see the opening page on the SEISS blowing their own trumpet, saying it's a world beating service delivered weeks ahead of schedule it makes your blood boil!

Have you looked at your tax return details to see if there is any obvious reason you may be ineligible?

Grumpy_chap

@Shmon85 - According to your OP, 2018-19 was (in time) approximately 50% PAYE and 50% self-employed.  Then later, that PAYE was about 30% of total income.  So, self-employed income was about 70%.  Have you double-checked the self-employed profits (income less the allowable expenses)? - it is the profits that need to be above the 50% threshold.

Pict_66

Thanks all. It seems I am eligible after all. There seems to be a problem with the online information HMRC have on me. eg. Wrong NI number that for some reason couldn’t be amended away from the office and another UTR assigned. A manual application by a HMRC seems to have got the grant process going at least. I will have to sort out my Government Gateway when HMRC are operating more like normal. Hope you got yours sorted too.